The Company of Darkness (38 page)

“Mmhmm,” Cady agreed, too satisfied and tingly to move, enjoying the cool breeze as she stared up at the ceiling.  “It sure was.”  Was that how it felt for Ethan every time he had sex?  If it was her, she’d be getting laid all the time, Company rules be damned.  Would it always be like this now that she had a demon bound to her?  It didn’t seem like the right time to ask the questions.     

Lazily, she moved her leg, pleased with the ripple of pleasure it produced.  She felt alive and tingly, and very, very contented.  How long would the afterglow last?  No wonder Ethan was always primed and ready for more.  Part of her was already up for the next round, but the damp spot on the sheet had her thinking about a change of locale.  

“We should probably wash up, don’t you think?” she suggested, rolling onto her hip.

His eyes cracked open, only to slide shut a second later.  “No, I just want to lay here and move… never.”

“Oh, come on.  You’ll feel better if you get cleaned up.  We don’t even have to go very far, there’s a bathroom right next door.  I’ll do everything, all you have to do is lie there, but in hot water.  Doesn’t that sound nice?  Ethan?” she prompted when he didn’t answer her, but he was already asleep.  For a brief moment, she considered shaking him awake or bringing in a bowl of warm water for a sponge bath, but in the end she decided he’d more than earned a rest. 

The sun had already started to set outside and Cady lay beside Ethan, watching the shadows claim the planes of his face, his shoulder, his torso – blending the tattoos into one swath of inky darkness.  There were plans to make, the future to map out, but for the moment she enjoyed the peace and quiet. 

The strum of a guitar shattered that stillness, voices singing along to
Blowing in the Wind
, with her mother’s laughter a giggly counterpart.  Peeping up to the window, she could see the corner of the bonfire outside, Zeke with a guitar perched on his knee, and her mom’s hand on his thigh. 
Yep, they definitely had to plan their next move.
 

There was no bulb in the overhead light fixture, but there were plenty of candles and an oil lamp, which appeared to be their main source of light after dark.  Cady lit three fat pillar candles set in tall, glass holders, confident they wouldn’t catch fire if she should fall asleep with them still lit.  The flickering candlelight reflected back at her through the mirror, and Cady looked around for something to cover it with, settling for one of the two thin blankets provided.  Better to snuggle for warmth under one blanket than have to fight whatever could find them through the mirror.   

All their things were still out in the car, and despite the fact that she didn’t feel sleepy at all, she felt no urge to leave their private retreat and fetch them.  Instead, she stretched out beside Ethan, not needing the blanket next to his heat, her thoughts keeping her company while he slumbered beside her and the sing-along continued outside. 

Her hand skimmed along the contours of his back, tracing the glyphs tattooed there and drawing a sigh of contentment from him.  How strange that her Taser touch didn’t seem to affect anyone unless she was threatened.  That was a bonus though, otherwise she’d end up wearing gloves whenever they were in bed together, and she liked the feel of his skin against hers far too much for that.  But what other surprises were in store for her? 

Besides that defense (not to mention the amazing sexcapades), the demon bound to her had pretty much proven to be a dud.  No extra strength, no other magical skills – apart from her ease at dream sending – which could’ve been attributed to her being an Adept, whatever that was.  Based on the lack of an accelerated healing ability, she probably wouldn’t age any slower either.  Nothing to change her life too radically, which suited her fine.  Maybe she and Ethan could slip off the grid somewhere and carve out a semi-normal life for themselves?  Cady clung to that hope as she finally drifted off to sleep, her fingers entwined with his.

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The Company of Lies
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